Data input system for enabling data input by writing without using tablet or the like

• US 6,334,003 B1
• Filed: 04/06/1999
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Yokota, Kazuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mariam, Daniel G.
• Application Number:
  US09/287,184
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 382/181, 382/185, 382/186, 382/187, 382/309, 382/313, 382/314, 382/113, 382/120, 382/121, 382/122, 382/188, 382/190, 382/198, 382/202, 382/312, 382/315, 345/173, 345/179, 358/473, 358/474, 358/478
• US Class Current: 382/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/373 using a special pattern or subpattern alphabet

Abstract

A data input system is provided with an input pen. A sequence of characters are traced with the input pen, and image data on them are read from the image scanner incorporated in the input pen. Each character is recognized on the basis of the image data. If a recognition error occurs during the input processing, a correct character is written with the input pen. A locus of movement is traced on the basis of moving distance data, which is obtained by a moving distance sensor and includes a moving distance and a moving direction. A character represented by the traced locus is recognized.

Claims

1. A data input system which comprises a main apparatus and an input pen externally connected to the main apparatus, and which inputs data in accordance with a manner in which the input pen is operated,

said input pen having:

an image scanner; and

a moving distance sensor, and

said main apparatus including;

first character recognition means for cutting out a character region from image data read by the image scanner of the input pen, and for executing character recognition;

correction-required character specifying means for specifying a character from among a sequence of characters recognized by the first character recognition means;

second character recognition means for tracing a locus of movement based on moving distance data, which is obtained by the moving distance sensor of the input pen and includes a moving distance and a moving direction, and for recognizing a character written with the input pen based on the traced locus of movement; and

recognized character correcting means for replacing a character recognized by the first character recognizing means and specified as a correction-required character by the correction-required character specifying means with a character recognized by the second character recognition means.

2. A data input system according to claim 1, wherein said input pen further includes display means for displaying a sequence of characters recognized by the first and second character recognition means.

3. A data input system according to claim 2, wherein said input pen includes means for removably coupling the display means thereto.

4. A data input system according to claim 1, wherein:

said input pen includes at least one operation button; and

said correction-required character specifying means includes means for specifying a correction-required character from among a sequence of characters recognized by the first character recognition means, in accordance with depression of the operation button.

5. A data input system according to claim 2, wherein:

said display means includes a contact sensor for outputting coordinate data on a contact point where a display panel of the display section is touched; and

said correction-required character specifying means includes means for specifying a correction-required character from among a sequence of characters recognized by the first character recognition means, in accordance with the coordinate data output from the contact sensor.

6. A data input system according to claim 1, wherein each of said input pen and said main apparatus includes infrared transmission/reception means for transmitting or receiving data by way of a wireless path.

7. A data input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

item selection means for causing the moving distance sensor to detect a scroll operation performed with the input pen, and for displaying a selection item on the basis of a detected locus of the scroll operation.

8. A data input system according to claim 7, wherein said item selection means includes means for displaying an item from among items presented in a two-dimensional arrangement, in accordance with the scroll operation performed with said input pen performs in X and Y directions.

9. A data input system according to claim 7, wherein said item selection means includes means for displaying an item from among items presented in a hierarchical arrangement, in accordance with the scroll operation performed with said input pen in X and Y directions.

10. A data input system according to claim 7, wherein said item selection means includes means for varying a scroll speed in accordance with a manner in which the input pen describes a solid line or a dotted line.

11. A data input system according to claim 7, wherein said item selection means includes means for displaying another selection item in accordance with a manner in which the input pen describes a circle.

12. A data input system according to claim 1, further comprising:

first item selection means for selecting one item from among a plurality of items by using the character recognized by the second character recognition means as a search key, and for displaying the selected item; and

second item selection means for displaying a second selection item, said second item selection means causing the moving distance sensor to detect a locus of a scroll operation performed with the input pen after said one item is displayed by the first item selection means, and displaying the second selection item on the basis of the locus detected by the moving distance sensor.

13. A data input system which comprises a main apparatus and an input pen externally connected to the main apparatus, and which inputs data in accordance with a manner in which the input pen is operated,

said input pen having:

an image scanner; and

a moving distance sensor, and

said main apparatus including;

first character recognition means for cutting out a character region from image data read by the image scanner of the input pen, and for executing character recognition;

second character recognition means for tracing a locus movement based on moving distance data, which is obtained by the moving distance sensor of the input pen and includes a moving distance and a moving direction, and for recognizing a character written with the input pen based on the traced locus of movement; and

distinguishing means for automatically distinguishing among newly input data provided by the first character recognition means, corrected input data provided by the first character recognition means, newly input data provided by the second character recognition means, and corrected input data provided by the second character recognition means, in accordance with a manner in which the input pen is operated.